Ammunition carrier



Aug. 25, 1925.

slL'coT'r v AMMUNITION CARRIER Filed Nov. 8, 1923 FIG.-

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Patented Aug. 25, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMMUNITION CARRIER.

Application filed' November 8, 1923. Serial No. 673,557.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, THORNTON S1Loo'r'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Fran cisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ammunition Carriers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The present invention relates to ammunition carriers, and aims to provide a novel and improved cartridge magazine for conveniently carrying a supply of cartridges for use with a pistol, rifle, or other firearm.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a device having means whereby the cartridges can be conveniently removed therefrom one at a time as needed, the device being intended especially for use with single shot pistols and similar firearms, requiring the loading of the pistol for each shot, although the device is useful for supplying cartridges for firearms generally.

A further object is the provision of such a device having a novel entrance closure, novel means for attaching the device to a pistol holster, and other novel features toenhauce the utility and efficiency of the device.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the ammunition carrier as applied to a pistol holster, showing a cartridge released and in position to be withdrawn.

Figs. 2 and 3 are cross sections taken on the res oective lines 2-2 and 3-3 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 sing on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4: is a vertical section of the device taken on the line 4- 1 of Fig. 3, on the same scale as Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 66 of Fig. 1, with the closure cap turned to open position, for introducing cartridges into the magazine tube.

The device comprises a vertical magazine tube 11 of a length and diameter according to the cartridges C to be held therein, said tube being of a diameter for loosely receiving the cartridges, and the tube being of a length so as to hold a supply of cartridges, say SIX or more.

The tube 11, as shown, is conveniently attached to the holster H for the pistol with which the cartridges are used, such holster being usually suspended from a belt B, and the tube 11 is disposed at the edge portion of the holster which is substantially straight for accommodating the pistol barrel. An offset depending prong 12 is secured, by welding or otherwise, to the tube 11 near but spaced below the upper end thereof and pierces the edge portion of the holster, to extend downwardly within the holster, as seen in Fig. 4:, thereby supporting the tube from the holster and holding the upper portion of the tube against the holster. A U- shaped plate 1.3 straddles the tube 11 near but spaced above the lower end of the tube, and is welded, soldered or otherwise secured to the tube, the terminals of the plate 13 being arranged to overlap the opposite sides of the holster and having slots 14:. Straps 15 and 16 are engaged through the slots 14, and the strap 16 carries a buckle 17 for the engagement of the strap 15 which extends through a slot 18 provided in the holster H adjacent to the edge thereof opposite to the tube 11. The straps 15 and 16 thus provide a band to embrace the holster and to hold the lower end of the tube 11 against the holster. Said band also prevents the tube 11 from being lifted relatively to the holster, so that the tube 11 cannot be removed until the strap 15 is disconnected from the buckle 17. This will permit the tube 11 to be raised for withdrawing the prong 12 from the holster. The plate 13 straddling the edge portion of the holster will also prevent the lower end of the tube 11 from being displaced transversely of said edge por tion of the holster.

A closure is provided for the upper end of the tube 11 into which the cartridges are dropped when filling the magazine or carrier. The closure comprises a cap or sleeve 19 fitted rotatably on the upper terminal of the tube 11 and provided at the top with the knob or finger piece 20 for conveniently turning said cap. The cap has a transverse slot 21 near its lower end receiving a screw or headed stud 22 secured to the tube 11, whereby to hold the cap on the tube and to limit the turning movement of the cap. The cap 19 has a longitudinal or vertical slot 23 extending upwardly from the slot 21, to register with a vertical or longitudinal open slot 24 with which the upper terminal of the tube 11 is provided, whereby the cartridges can be inserted through the entrance slot 24 of the tube. The upper end of the slot 23 has a T-head 25 for the passage of the rims or beads of the cartridges, and when the cap 19 is turned to bring the slot 23 thereof into registration with the slot 24, the cartridges can be inserted transversely through the slots to drop down the tube 11, and the cartridges must be inserted with the bullets or projectiles lowermost, inasmuch as the rims or beads of the cartridges can only pass through the head 25 of the slot 22. When the tube 11 has been filled, the cap 19 is turned to bring the slot 23 opposite to the slot 24, as seen in Fig. 5, thereby preventing the cartridges from falling from the upper end of the tube 11, such as when the holster is tilted or inverted.

The lower terminal of the tube 11 is contracted slightly and has several open longitudinal slots or kerfs 26 forming the spring tongues 27 which converge downwardly. The opening between the ends of the tongues 27 is sufliciently large for the free passage of the bullets and cartridge shells, but the bead or rim of the cartridge will seat frictionally on the tongues 27 when the cartridge is released, as seen in Fig. 1. The cartridge will be supported in depending position with the bullet and shell projecting out of the lower end of the tube, so that the cartridge can be readily grasped by the thumb and finger, and pulled out of the tube, the tongues 27 being resilient so as to spring apart to permit the head or flange of the shell to pass out.

A detent is provided for supporting the lowermost cartridge in the tube above the lower end of the tube, so as to only release the cartridge when it is desired to use same. Thus, a downwardly-extending leaf spring 28 has its upper terminal secured to the tube 11 on the exterior thereof by screws 29 or the like, preferably above the plate 13. A doubled sheet metal member 30 is secured over the free terminal of the spring 28, and the portion 31 of said member adjacent to the tube 11 has the detent 32 bent away from the spring 29 and projecting through a slot 33 in the tube 11 so as to enter the tube. The detent 32 is notched or concaved, as seen in Fig. 3, so as to accommodate the bullets and shells of the cartridges, but the beads or flanges of the cartridges will seat on the detent 32, as seen in Fig. 4, thereby supporting the lowermost cartridge with its bullet above the lower end of the tube 11. The member 30 is formed with a loop 34 at its bend, thereby providing a convenient finger piece for springing the leaf spring 28 away from the tube 11 to withdraw the detent 32 from the cart-ridge, thereby permitting the lowermost cartridge to drop down between the tongues 27 so as to be conveniently pulled from the tube. The next cartridge being supported by the released cartridge which is held by the tongues 27, will be in a position so that when the spring 28 is released, after releasing a cartridge, the detent 32 will project under the bead of such next cartridge, to support same when the released cartridge is withdrawn. Thus, whenever a cartridge is wanted, the finger piece 34 is moved away from the tube 11, thereby releasing the lowermost cartridge, and the detent will then support the next cartridge, the released cartridge being readily pulled out of the tube for insertion into the pistol. The flexing movement of the spring 28 away from the tube 11 is limited by a yoke-shaped stop 35 welded, soldered or otherwise secured to the tube 11 and extending across the spring 28 opposite to the detent 32.

The present carrier or magazine occupies very little space at the edge of the holster, so as not to be cumbersome, and enables a supply of cartridges to be conveniently available, especially in connection with single shot pistols and similar firearms.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. An ammunition carrier comprising a cartridge holding tube, a downwardly extending leaf spring secured to the tube on the exterior thereof, and a detent carried by said spring between the ends thereof and extending inwardly into the tube for supporting the lowermost cartridge therein.

2. An ammunition carrier comprising a cartridge holding tube having yieldable means at its lower end for suspending a cartridge from its bead with the cartridge depending from the lower end of the tube to be taken by hand from the tube, and a manually operable detent carried by the tube and arranged to project under the bead of the next upper cartridge when supported by the lowermost cartridge held by said means so as to support said next upper cartridge above said means when the cartridge held by said means is removed.

3. An ammunition carrier comprising a cartridge holding tube having means at its lower end for suspending a cartridge from the lower end of the tube to be taken by hand from the tube, and a detent carried by the tube and arranged to engage the next upper cartridge When supported by the lowermost cartridge held by said means so as to support said next upper cartridge above said means When the cartridge held by said means is removed.

4. An ammunition carrier comprising a cartridge holding tube, an offset prong carried by the tube to enter a pistol holster at one edge thereof, a portion carried by the tube to straddle said edge of the holster, and means for fastening the tube to the holster.

5. An ammunition carrier comprising a cartridge holding tube, a prong carried by the tube to enter a pistol holster at one edge thereof, a U-shaped member secured on the tube to straddle said edge of the holster, and a strap band assembled With said member for embracing a portion of the holster to hold the tube in place against said edge.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my 20 signature.

THORNTON SILCOTT. 

